What Is Causing Skin Redness?

• Dermatitis is a common cause of skin redness. If the condition worsens, it could lead to eczema, a serious skin condition
• Dry scaly skin, along with skin rashes, swelling and dry itchy skin are some of the symptoms of eczema
• Eczema treatment is available in a variety of applications, though there is no known cure for this skin ailment

Skin redness can have many causes. Treating the problem effectively, however, requires figuring out what is causing the problem. Without that knowledge, your physician will not be able to determine the correct course of treatment for the problem. Below we’ll look at some of the common causes as well as an appropriate red skin treatment for them.

Dermatitis

The most common cause of skin redness is dermatitis which is an umbrella term for any type of skin inflammation. Inflammation occurs when the immune system begins using its chemical weapons to fight off invading germs or perceived threats to your health. In some cases, the immune system overreacts and actually begins attacking your own cells. In other cases, the inflammation is a result of an allergen which can also trigger the immune response.

If you have a red skin patch around your ears or eyes, this is known as seborrheic dermatitis. This condition is usually caused by oily skin combined with a reaction to a type of yeast found on the human body. Although it can cause itching, the condition is not something that should be cause for concern.

To treat other types of dermatitis, you should avoid using any products which might irritate the skin further, including soaps and cosmetics. You should also try applying a topical ointment, calamine lotion, or other produce recommended by your physician or dermatologist.

Eczema

When dermatitis becomes chronic and is accompanied by other changes in skin texture, including the presence of scaling, the cause may be eczema. Eczema is thought to be caused by an overreaction of the immune system to a certain type of allergen. As a result, the skin reddens, becomes itchy, starts scaling, and begins to thicken. The condition is most common in children and, therefore, it can cause a great deal of distress in families.

Although nothing is known to cure eczema, some medications can be used to treat patients. To reduce the inflammation, systemic corticosteroids are often used. Topical immunomodulators can also sometimes be used to help control the problem. In milder cases, calamine lotions and other types of topical creams can be effective in stopping the itch.

Physicians today also advise patients on ways to prevent eczema outbreaks. For example, keeping the skin moist by using moisturizers and running a humidifier can be helpful. Some research is also suggesting that breast feeding may reduce a child’s chances of developing this problem.

Other Possibilities

Most of the time skin redness is not a cause for alarm. You may be reacting to an abundance of stress in your life or may have come in contact with some type of skin irritant. If the skin redness persists, see your physician. Not only can conditions such as eczema be causing the problem, but the rash could be a sign of a more serious ailment, especially in children. Scarlet fever, Kawasaki Disease, and impetigo also cause visible rashes on the skin and can be serious when occurring in young people.

The information supplied in this article is not to be considered as medical advice and is for educational purposes only.